Sincerely, Carter (20 page)

“Anywhere else you need to go today?”

“No…” I swallowed. “But I don’t want to go home yet. Unless you have something you have to do, that is.”

He looked over at me and stared into my eyes for a while. “I don’t.”

“So…We should hang out.”

“We should.”

Silence hung in the air between us—so unfamiliar and strange, and the newfound attraction between us was electric, palpable. I wondered if either of us would start listing suggestions like we usually did, if those few rounds of sex had already ruined our ability to be just friends, because I was honestly unable to speak right now. My brain couldn’t function properly when his lips were so close to mine.

“How about Marina Cove?” Carter finally shattered our silence. “Epsilon Chi is throwing a get-together there today.”

“Sounds good.”

“One of your beach bags is in my trunk. Do you need to go home and get anything else?”

I shook my head and he left a twenty on the table. Standing, he grabbed my hands and pulled me up, leading me to his car. He even opened the door for me.

I slipped inside and he cranked the engine—starting the one hour drive to a private cove that was near the shore. The waves lapping against each other to our left were the only sounds between us, and I tried to pretend like our hands weren’t entwined behind the gear shift—like his fingers weren’t caressing my knuckles at every stoplight.

As he veered the car onto the expressway, I put on my shades and stole glances of him every now and then. How the boy with itchy hair and gangly height from fourth grade had grown into the dominant and sexy man sitting next to me, I’d never know…

When we pulled up to the cove, our hands disentangled as we parked.

Several familiar faces from the EPIC party were setting up volleyball nets and grills, and Josh was yelling our names and walking over.

“Hey!” He looked surprised to see us. “You two decided to come after all, huh? Do you now have a change of heart about Epsilon Pi?”

“Hell no,” we said in unison, laughing together.

“Then why are you here?” Josh crossed his arms.

“Looking for something to do,” I said. “The beaches are cluttered with tourists and there’s a big wedding at the pier, so we figured crashing your party and making you feel somewhat important would be a much better way to spend our day.”

“Once again…” Josh said. “Out of all the girls in your elementary school,
this
is the one you chose to befriend?”

“You’re just jealous it wasn’t me and you,” I said.

“I hate to break it to you, Ari,” he said, “but it would’ve never been me and you because I would’ve hit it a long ass time ago.”

“
Never
.” I opened Carter’s trunk, taking out my beach bag. “I’m going to go change and lay out near the rocks. Whenever you guys start grilling, let me know and I’ll help.” I walked away and headed toward the restroom villa, hoping the brand new tension between me and Carter wasn’t obvious.

I pulled my hair into a bun and found a perfect spot to rest. I lay against the rocks and took a short nap as the sun warmed my skin.

Josh called me over to help marinate some of the chicken just as I flipped over, and for once, we actually managed to be together for more than ten minutes without arguing.

With each hour that passed, more and more people pulled up to the marina—beach towels and beers in tow, and even though everyone was genuinely nice and friendly, the only thing I really wanted to do right now was lay against Carter again.

At sunset, a familiar hand grabbed mine and pulled me along the shore.

“Careful,” I said, letting go of his hand. “People might actually think we’ve had sex.”

“We
have
had sex.”

“You know what I mean.” I blushed. “They’ll think we’re together now, and I’m pretty sure we’re not.”

“We’re still best friends, Ari.”

“Best friends do
not
hold hands.”

“I was only holding your hand to let you go,” he said, looking amused. “We’ve walked along the shore and talked for hours far too many times to count.”

“Yes, well…”

“Well,
what
?”

“Excuse me if I’m still adjusting to something that might’ve happened last night. Unlike you, I’m doing my best not to do little things that give you an inkling of an idea that it may happen again.”

He suddenly stopped walking and stared at me. Then he pushed me into an oncoming wave.

My body hit the water and I laughed—swallowing salt water as another wave washed over me.

Standing up, I immediately ran toward him and chased him up and down the shoreline, trying to get back to him.

I never did catch him, though. Whenever I got close, he would grab me by the waist and push me into another wave. Then he started chasing me.

Eventually surrendering, I held my hands up. “I’m going to take a break by the bonfire. I’m going to remember what you did, though.”

“You won’t.” He smiled and I blushed for the umpteenth time today.

“Hey, Carter…” A brunette walked right between us. “And you’re Arizona, right?” She acknowledged me without glancing my way.

I shot Carter an “I’ll be over there” look and found a spot near the fire. I grabbed one of the vegetable skewers from the grill and watched as that girl fawned all over him.

To my surprise though, he wasn’t giving her his usual charm routine. He was still smiling and entertaining her questions, but he wasn’t giving her the full experience I’d come to know.

She said a few more things to him, things that looked like they were dripping with sexual innuendos, and then she walked away.

When she left, Carter walked up the bank and sat right next to me.

“Did you two set a date?” I asked. “When will you be going out with her?”

“I won’t be,” he said. “What made you ask me that?”

“It’s your typical M.O. That, or taking her in the backseat of your car right after or—”

He pressed his finger against my lips. “I recently had sex with someone who might’ve ruined me for all others.”

My eyes widened and my cheeks heated.

“Of course, it never actually happened in her mind, but I wouldn’t be a good best friend if I lied and said the same…” He moved his finger away. “For the record, it’s going to take me a lot longer to forget.”

“So…This girl’s pussy is magical?”

“Must be.” He laughed.

“Do you think it’s possible for this guy to have sex again with this best friend of his without the two of them fucking their friendship up?”

“I think it’s very possible for them to have sex again, and I think he and this best friend can assess the damage afterwards...”

“The woman in question is used to going on dates whenever she’s sleeping with someone.”

“Then the guy in question will take her on dates.”

“But that’s the problem,” I said, feeling his hand subtly press against the side of my thigh. “Normal best friends don’t go on dates.”

“Then I’m starting to think we’ve never been normal…”

I hesitated a minute before responding. “Can we go back to your place tonight?”

Eleventh Grade

Subject: Some Advice for Your Date Tonight.

Please don’t embarrass yourself by wearing a goddamn sweater.

Sincerely,

Carter

Subject: Re: Some Advice For Your Date Tonight.

Please don’t embarrass yourself by talking for more than five seconds at a time.

So not sincerely,

Arizona

Subject: In All Seriousness…

Where is your date taking you? Do you have a curfew?

Sincerely,

Carter

Subject: Re: In All Seriousness…

Since he’s a TRUE gentleman and not just into sex like someone unfortunate I know…He’s taking me on a “whirlwind” date. (Every girl at school is talking about these btw.) First, he’s taking me to see a movie in the VIP section of Waldman’s Theater. Then, we’re going to Sandcastle to watch fireworks over ice cream…Then we’re going to walk down the pier at sunset and get tattoos before a little stargazing to end the night. (Take notes. THIS is how it’s done.)

Where are you taking Monica? No, wait. Let me guess. Since she’s already told you that she’s looking forward to having sex and just wants to do something simple…

A movie and Burger King?

Get more creative,

Arizona

Subject: Re: Re: In All Seriousness…

A movie and McDonalds.

Sincerely,

Carter

As it turned out, Ari was more than right about that “whirlwind date” thing.

The second I picked up my date—Monica, who was ironically wearing a sweater, she’d said, “I’m so grateful you’re not like other guys, Carter…I don’t have to dress like a model to impress you and I’m sure you’re not really taking me to a drive-in movie and a burger place like all the other guys I’ve been with…”

Of course not…

I googled “cheap whirlwind date,” and pretended as if I’d planned to take her on one all along. I took her to a free art gallery and to Zapas—a restaurant a step above fast food fare. Then, because I was such a “nice guy,” I took her to a private park.

When we returned to the parking lot, her true intentions began to surface. As soon as we got into my car, her arms went around my neck and her lips were against mine.

I reclined my seat and pulled her into my lap, rolling my windows all the way up.

She straddled me, kissing me harder as I ran my fingers through her hair. I slipped my hand underneath her sweater, running my fingers along the clasp of her bra. Before I could take things any further, my phone rang.

I ignored it, letting it continue to sound off in my pocket.

Monica moaned against my mouth, and my phone rang again, but I ignored it once more. Surely it was a misdial, and it couldn’t have been anyone important; the people closest to me knew I was on a date.

Unsnapping Monica’s bra, I palmed her breasts in my hands.

My phone rang louder, again and again.

Groaning, I gently lifted Monica out of my lap and placed her in the passenger seat. “Give me one second.” I kissed her lips again before taking out the phone to see who it was.

Ari…

“This better be a goddamn national emergency…” I held the phone up to my ear.

“It is…” She was crying. Hard. “It fucking is…”

“Whoa. Hold up.” I changed my tone. “What’s going on? Why are you crying?”

“I’m sorry for calling instead of texting during your date, but…”

“But what?”

“After you take Monica home—whatever time that may be, could you please come get me?”

“Where are you?”

“Waldman Theater…”

“The one near the bookstore?”

“No…”she said. “The one by the airport…”

What?
“Where is Elliott?”

“Gone…He left me here.” She sniffled. “I’m perfectly fine…Just wanted to get a ride since the buses don’t come out here. Oh, and before you ask, yes, I’ll definitely give you gas money for driving all the way out here.”

“I wasn’t going to ask you for gas money.”

“It was a joke…” She sniffled again. “Will you be able to get me?”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks. See you later.” She hung up, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to give Monica my full attention right now, even if I tried.

I buckled my pants and cranked the engine. “Something important just came up. We’ll have to finish this later…”

“Aww!” She blushed as she readjusted her bra. “You really are a gentleman! You want to wait until the second date until we have sex! I was
so
going to sleep with you today, but it’s cute that you want to hold off for a bit!”

Fuckkkk, Ari…

I dropped Monica off in record time, with her promising a “more satisfying night” next weekend, and began the long drive to the airport area. I passed exit after exit, wondering what type of argument must have transpired between Ari and Elliott for him to leave her in the middle of nowhere.

Why the hell would anyone do that?

When I pulled up to the theater, Ari was sitting on a bench with a bucket of popcorn in her lap—looking at her phone. I pulled up to the curb and got out of the car.

“Hey…” I said.

“Hey…” She didn’t look up as I sat next to her. “I hope you didn’t cut your date short because of this.”

“There were a few other reasons…”

“Oh?” She looked at me and I noticed that her eyes were red and puffy, that there were tears falling down her face.

“Yeah…” I untied the silk headband she was wearing and pressed it against her cheeks. “Turns out she wanted a whirlwind date, too. She also thought I was a complete gentleman, so she wore a sweater.”

“Bahahaha!” She burst into laughter and I caught the popcorn bucket before it could fall to the concrete. “Oh god! I am…I am…Bahahahaha! That’s what you get for trying to sleep with every girl possible.”

“Glad my night of epic failure could make you laugh...” I waited for her to stop. “What happened to yours?”

“Turns out, you were right…”

“About?”

“Guys our age are really only interested in sex…” She paused, looking at me.

“Okay…” I said. “Are you going to tell me the rest of the story, or are you waiting for something?”

“I’m waiting for you to say what you’re supposed to say. You know, that’s not true, Ari. All guys our age aren’t only interested in sex.”